ACTF

Post-Production

We’re just getting started with this resource. Throughout Term 1 and Term 2, we’ll be adding new examples, behind‑the‑scenes insights, and interviews with past finalists. Think of this space as a growing hub - so check back in and for fresh inspiration!

You have filmed your scenes or captured your animation. Now it’s time for post‑production, the stage where everything comes together to turn your work into a finished short film ready to share with your audience. 

Editing is one of the most important parts of filmmaking because it’s where your story really begins to take shape. Even if you’ve filmed brilliant shots or captured perfect animation frames, the way you arrange them in the edit helps decide how your audience feels and understands the story. This is also the stage where you return to your storyboard and shortlist: checking your planned sequence, reviewing the emotional beats and making sure the final edit reflects the intentions you set out at the beginning. 

The stages of editing include: 

1. Organise footage

 Before you start editing, sort all your shots or animation frames. 
2. Rough cut This is your first full version of the film. At this stage, you’re focusing on structure - not perfection. The goal is to see the whole story play out from beginning to end. 
3. Fine cut Now you start tightening the storytelling. You trim shots, adjust timing, refine pacing, and check that each moment flows clearly. 
4. Sound design In this stage, you shape the audio by cleaning up dialogue and adding in sound effects, ambience, and music. For animation, this stage may also include syncing sound to movement or working with Additional Dialogue Recording (ADR). 
5. Final polish This is final step. Finishing touches such as colour grading, titles, and any final effects are added here. Once the final cut is complete, your project is ready to export and share.  

 

1. Organising your footage

Before you start editing, you need to know what you have.  Watch through every clip you recorded, even the ones you think went wrong. This may take some time but you never know what gems are hiding halfway through a take. This step helps you spot mistakes, funny moments, and the strongest shots for your story. If you see something you like or have a favourite take, label the file. This will come in handy when you start editing.  

When reviewing your footage and frames, keep in mind things such as:  

  • Which takes showcase the best performance from the actors?  
  • Is the story clear?  
  • Are there any technical mishaps (e.g. the sound is muffled)?  

Trop Tip: Stay organised! Label your files with the scene, shot and take number for a smoother editing process. 

2. and 3. Rough cut and fine cut

While you’re editing your rough cut or fine cut, think about which cuts or transitions will best tell the story and timing, when to cut to a different shot. Remember, sometimes the most powerful choice is not to cut at all!

Fast Cuts: Quick edits between shots that create a sense of excitement, urgency, or chaos. Great for action or energetic sequences. 

Long Takes: Shots that continue without cutting for a long period. They slow the pace and can make a moment feel calm, suspenseful, or serious. 

Jump Cuts: A sudden cut forward in time within the same shot or scene. They can show time passing quickly, create a jarring or uncomfortable feeling, or draw attention to the filmmaking itself. 

Match Cuts: A cut where two shots are linked by a similar shape, movement, or idea. Match cuts create smooth visual connections and help tell the story in clever or symbolic ways. 

Dissolve: One shot fades out while the next shot fades in. This transition suggests a gentle change - often used to show time passing or to connect two related scenes. 

Fade In / Fade Out: A gradual transition to or from black. A fade-in starts a new scene softly, while a fade-out signals an ending or a shift in time or place. 

While editing, think about the following visual elements that help shape your story:

Timing: Is each scene the right length? Too long can feel slow or confusing; too short can feel rushed. 

Storytelling: Does the audience clearly understand what’s happening? Are your shots arranged in a way that supports the story you want to tell? 

Pacing: Is the rhythm of the film working? Think about when the film should feel exciting, calm, fast, or slow, and use your edits to match that energy. 

Continuity: Do the shots fit together smoothly to create a believable world? Check that locations, props, and character movements match from one shot to the next. 

Lighting consistency: Does the lighting stay the same across frames and scenes? Consistent lighting helps the film feel polished and cohesive. 

 

Trop Tip: Refer back to your storyboard and script but don’t be afraid to experiment or improvise if something doesn’t work or doesn’t feel right.  

4. Sound Design

Sound is just as important as the pictures in your film. Music, voices and sound effects all help set the mood, build the world and make your story feel real. In animation, sound design is extra important because nothing makes noise unless you add it! 
 
Explore the Hardball Sound Design Resource to learn all about the stages of sound design from start to finish.  

  • Sound design resource

    Why is sound so important in television and film? How does sound help bring audiences into a screen world? What is the workflow followed by screen professionals when creating, capturing and editing sound for a production? We answer these questions and more in this video sequence resource.

Key elements of sound design

When designing your soundscape, think about the following elements:  

Dialogue is anything your characters say to help tell the story. 

  • Check that all characters are speaking at a similar volume. 
  • Re‑record lines that are too quiet, muffled, or windy. 
  • Make sure every line matches the character’s mouth movements. 
  • Use quiet locations or a microphone to improve clarity. 

Atmosphere is the background sound that makes your scene feel real. 

  • Choose ambience that matches the location (e.g., dogs barking and distant chatter for a park scene). 
  • Keep ambience low enough so dialogue can still be heard clearly. 
  • Avoid unwanted noises like cars, wind, or loud humming. 
  • Use ambience to fill silent gaps so scenes don’t feel empty. 

Foley is creating sound effects using everyday objects. 

  • Test a few objects to find the most realistic or fun sound. 
  • Record foley close to the microphone for quality. 
  • Match the foley sound exactly to the action on screen. 
  • Keep Foley at a natural volume so it blends with other sounds. 

Special sound effects add excitement, emphasis, and drama to moments. 

  • Use special effects only when they support the story. 
  • Adjust the volume so they don’t overpower dialogue. 
  • Choose sounds that match the tone (funny, spooky, magical, sci‑fi). 
  • Layer multiple effects if one sound isn’t strong enough. 

Music helps show emotion, mood, and the pace of your scene. 

  • Choose music that matches the feeling of the scene. 
  • Fade music in and out so it doesn’t start or stop suddenly. 
  • Keep music low under dialogue so characters can still be heard. 
  • Change the music tempo if you want the scene to feel faster or slower. 

Sound mixing is balancing all your audio, so everything works together. 

  • Keep dialogue as the loudest layer so it’s always clear. 
  • Reduce music volume during important talking moments. 
  • Check that nothing suddenly jumps in volume between shots. 
  • Wear headphones to catch sounds you might miss on speakers. 

Trop tip: Ensure you have the rights to use any music or sound effects you’re adding to your edit.  

5. Final Polish

This is the fun final touch! You might add: 

  • Opening titles 
  • Character name cards 
  • Special effects (magic, lights, slow‑motion, sparkles) 
  • End credits thanking everyone who helped 
     

Tip: Don’t forget to credit voice actors, camera operators, designers and editors in your production team. 

Exporting your film

Once your edit is complete and everything looks and sounds the way you want, it’s time to export your film as a video file.

Congratulations! You’ve created a short film from start to finish! Your film is now ready to be submitted to Trop Jr.